Deaths in prison

In this country we do not give a death sentence, but for everyone who has taken their life in prison that is exactly what they got.

- Mark Saunders, whose son Dean died in HMP Chelmsford in 2016

Since 1990, at least 4916people have died in prisons in England and Wales. 2155 of those deaths were self-inflicted; there have been 40 self-inflicted deaths in prison so far in 2019. In 2016 there were 354 deaths in prison, the highest number we have ever recorded.

Below is a breakdown of deaths in prison in England and Wales by calendar year (January-December) since 1990.

We provide free and independent advice to bereaved people following a death in state care or detention in England and Wales, and in other cases where wider issues of state and corporate accountability are in question.